John Musto
Encyclopedia
John Musto is an American composer and pianist. As a composer, he is active in opera, orchestral and chamber music
, song, vocal ensemble
, and solo piano works. As a pianist, he performs frequently as a soloist, alone and with orchestra, as a chamber musician, and with singers.
, Musto studied at the Manhattan School of Music
. After graduation from the conservatory with a reputation as a pianist, his compositions began to draw increasing attention and frequent performances. His long association with such institutions as the New York Festival of Song
(including serving as new music advisor), the Wolf Trap Opera Company, the Caramoor Festival
, Copland House, the Miller Theatre
at Columbia University
, and the Moab Festival have given him stable bases of operation and numerous commissions.
He served as composer-in-residence at Caramoor for the 2005-2006 season.
In 1986, he began to build a catalogue of published compositions at Peermusic Classical, which continues to grow steadily.
and Metropolitan Opera
companies. He has often appeared with her as pianist and has recorded his collected songs with his wife. Their son Joshua was born in 1994.
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
, song, vocal ensemble
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, and solo piano works. As a pianist, he performs frequently as a soloist, alone and with orchestra, as a chamber musician, and with singers.
Career
Born in 1954 in Brooklyn, New YorkBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, Musto studied at the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
. After graduation from the conservatory with a reputation as a pianist, his compositions began to draw increasing attention and frequent performances. His long association with such institutions as the New York Festival of Song
New York Festival of Song
The New York Festival of Song presents an annual series of concerts in New York City dedicated to the art of song, classical, modern and popular...
(including serving as new music advisor), the Wolf Trap Opera Company, the Caramoor Festival
Caramoor International Music Festival
The Caramoor International Music Festival is a summer music festival founded in 1945 that is held on the estate of the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts Inc., which includes a Mediterranean-style stucco villa and is located about north of New York City in Katonah, New York.The Caramoor...
, Copland House, the Miller Theatre
Miller Theatre
Miller Theatre at Columbia University is located on the Morningside Heights campus of Columbia University. It is a performing arts producer dedicated to developing and presenting new music....
at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and the Moab Festival have given him stable bases of operation and numerous commissions.
He served as composer-in-residence at Caramoor for the 2005-2006 season.
In 1986, he began to build a catalogue of published compositions at Peermusic Classical, which continues to grow steadily.
Personal
In 1984 John Musto married the soprano Amy Burton, a member of the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
companies. He has often appeared with her as pianist and has recorded his collected songs with his wife. Their son Joshua was born in 1994.
Orchestra
- Overture to Pope Joan (1998) full orchestra
- Passacaglia (2003) large orchestra
Piano and Orchestra
- Piano Concerto 1 (2005) piano solo with full orchestra; premiered at Caramoor with the composer at the piano
- Piano Concerto 2 (2005) piano solo with chamber orchestra; premiered at Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
with the composer at the piano
Voice and Orchestra
- Encounters (1992) tenor and full orchestra
- Dove Sta Amore (1996) soprano and chamber orchestra
- Quiet Songs (orchestrated 2009) soprano and chamber orchestra
Opera
- Volpone (2004) comic opera in two acts with a libretto by Mark Campbell, commissioned by Wolf Trap
- Later the Same Evening (2007) opera in one act with a libretto by Mark Campbell; professional premiered scheduled for Glimmerglass, July 2011
- Bastianello (2008) comic opera in one act with a libretto by Mark Campbell
- The Inspector (2011), comic opera with a libretto by Mark Campbell based on Gogol
Chamber Music
- Piano Trio (1998) violin, violoncello and piano
- Divertimento (1999) flute, clarinet, viola, violoncello, piano and percussion
- Clarinet Sextet (2001) clarinet, string quartetString quartetA string quartet is a musical ensemble of four string players – usually two violin players, a violist and a cellist – or a piece written to be performed by such a group...
and piano
- String Quartet (2007)
Vocal Chamber Music
- The Old Gray Couple (1994) soprano, baritone with piano four-hands
- The Book of Uncommon Prayer (2001) SATB with piano
- River Songs (2002) baritone, violoncello and piano
Choral
- Starsong (1997) SATB, harp and two horns
- Five Motets (2001) a capella mixed chorus
Voice and Piano
- Two by Frost (1986)
- Canzonettas (1984)
- Enough Rope (1985)
- Shadow of the Blues (1986)
- Recuerdo (1988)
- Quiet Songs (1990)
- Dove Sta Amore (1996)
- Penelope (2000)
- Viva Sweet Love (2005)
- Triolet (1987)
- Lament (1988)
- Flamenco (2000)
- I Stop Writing the Poem (2001)
- Old Photograph (2001)
- San Jose Symphony Reception (2001)
- Words To Be Spoken (2001)
- Nude at the Piano (2003)